Lack of snow Monticello secures crosstown disappoints rivalry trophy for 2016-17 youngsters 1C 1B ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2017 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 ROLLIN’ WITH TOLIN UAM men’s basketball team rewrites school record books with best start in 72 years BY HAROLD COGGINS son) remain from 2015-16. Tolin [email protected] revamped his entire roster, bringing in recruits from California to Flori- If this is a dream, it’s likely Kyle da for a new beginning to his third Tolin and his now No. 22-ranked season as head Weevil. University of Arkansas at Monti- “There’s 72 years of basketball cello men’s basketball Boll Weevils history here,” said Tolin, smiling never want to wake up. After two from ear to ear after Saturday’s more victories last week, UAM has win, “and to be able to have some established a new school record for kind of record is a neat deal. It’s best start to a season at 10-0. taken a little bit but that’s what I Thursday, the Weevils matched envisioned when got here. We’re the 9-0 beginning to a season fortunate to get to add to the history Mike Newell’s 2008-09 squad ac- of UAM basketball today.” complished with a 74-61 win over The streak almost didn’t happen, Southern Nazarene University. though. Saturday’s game, for the Saturday, this year’s team put that most part, was never in doubt but mark in its rear-view mirror with on Thursday, UAM trailed at the a 74-54 triumph over Oklahoma half by nine points and looked to Baptist University. be on the ropes against Southern A side benefi t to the streak is that Nazarene. UAM, one of only six teams still un- Outscoring the Crimson Storm defeated in all of NCAA Division II, by 22 points after intermission, sits alone atop the GAC standings at however, kept the streak alive and 6-0—not bad for a club picked 12th set up Saturday’s record-breaking (and last) in mid-October 2016 by contest. Against Tolin’s alma mater the league’s coaches in their presea- and the place he coached 10 years son poll. The six conference wins with his father, Hall of Famer Doug already equal the best performance Tolin, the Weevils again took a in either of Tolin’s fi rst two seasons while to get started but when junior in Monticello. Tyrin Jones tied the game for the And, with last year’s club fi nish- last time at 30 all with 4 minutes, ing its season by defeating Oklaho- Harold Coggins/Advance-Monticellonian 49 seconds left in the fi rst half, ma Baptist, the Weevils set a new POWERFUL MOVE Senior Vicktor Arnick scores (20) two of his team-high 17 points by splitting four Oklahoma Baptist defenders as UAM established a UAM used that as a springboard to GAC best for consecutive wins by new record for the best start to a men’s basketball season in school history with a 74-54 win Saturday. grab its 10th straight victory. a men’s basketball team. The 11 “I won’t give a ‘coach’ answer,” consecutive wins bests both Hard- same last year. Weevils alone with the longest sin- streak achieved by both the 1959- Sharpe. Tolin said when asked about break- ing University, which put together Ironically, a victory Thursday gle-season men’s basketball win- 60 Weevils, under Leslie Beard, What makes this winning streak ing the record against the school a 10-game winning streak during over Harding in the fi nal contest of ning streak in the now six-year-old and the National Intercollegiate even more impressive is that just where he spent much of his life. the 2012-13 season, and Ouachita a fi ve-game home stand at Steel- GAC. Another school record is in Athletic Association National Run- two players (in reality, just one be- RECORD Baptist University, which did the man Field House would stand the sight, too—the 14-game unbeaten ner-up 1985-86 squad, under Gary cause one was redshirted last sea- See Page 6A Quorum Court approves raises TOUR OF COOKIES WINNER Allen House fi lm releases trailer for full-time county employees Special to the Advance Fabled Motion Pictures recent- ly announced the trailer premiere BY ASHLEY FOREMAN 6.25 percent raise this year. gation with the Arkansas Depart- of their newest feature, “The [email protected] When the court met on Jan. 2, ment of Environmental Quality Perfect Host: A Southern Gothic they approved the county bud- for the Drew County landfill. Tale.” In January, the Drew County Co-written and directed by Quorum Court has met twice so far get for 2017 and reinstated Cliff Akin and Justices of the Peace Gibson as county attorney for Frank Appleberry, Chris Barnett, Arkansas native Derrick Sims and has approved raises, county (Come Morning), the picture budgets and the county attorney. this term. Carole Bulloch, Tommy Gray, was fi lmed in and around Mon- According to Drew County The QC also gave Drew Coun- Roger Harris, Orlando Jones, Patty ticello’s infamous Allen House Clerk Lyna Gulledge, full-time ty Judge Robert Akin authority Mitchell and Steve Morrison make in Spring 2016. TPH is currently county employees will receive a to handle the Contract of Obli- up the Quorum Court for 2017. in post-production in Wellington, New Zealand. “The Perfect Host” has recent- ly received an opportunity to have Arkansas is fi rst Facebook Techstart partner the fi nal sound mix and color completed at the world-renowned Park Road Post (The Lord of the administer the Techstart program. Techstart is a pro- Special to the Advance Rings, King Kong, District 9). To gram developed by Facebook, Inc. that aims to give help cover the cost, the company LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson students access to high quality computer science and has launched a new online fund- announced the details of an agreement with Facebook, virtual reality education in order to generate interest in Ashley Foreman/Advance-Monticellonian raiser. Inc. to launch the company’s Techstart program in Ar- computer science careers and provide instruction for TASTY AWARD Kay Carpenter of The Wild Hare (center) receives the citi- The production has recently kansas high schools last Thursday. The Arkansas & students. zen-voted favorite cookie award for the Tour of Cookies that took place in hired Arkansas-born but Los An- Facebook Techstart Partnership is a fi rst-of-its-kind Techstart uses a combination of VR instruction, December from Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce President geles-based composer Cameron partnership with the social media giant. curriculum support and professional development for Glenda Nichols (left) and board member Debra James. Residents bought Chambers to do all music compo- Under the agreement, Facebook will donate 500 educators, access to computer science events and con- tickets and went to local businesses to get their homemade cookies and sition for the fi lm. Part of the new Virtual Reality classroom kits, including computers, FACEBOOK holiday treats. Carpenter’s cookies were the fan favorite. She received a fundraiser will cover his fees, or- See Page 6A decorative Christmas cookie display plate and a plaque. cameras and the Oculus Rift equipment necessary to chestration costs and recording. Plans are to record local Ar- kansas choirs for the soundtrack. Production will begin submit- ting to fi lm festivals across the Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame grows by fi ve members globe beginning in mid-January. Once the fi lm is selected for its fi rst festival, announcements will BY FRED MILLER March 3 at Little Rock’s Embassy Suites number of honorees inducted into the Arkan- He joined the University of Arkansas U of A System Division of Agriculture Hotel. Luncheon tickets are $35 each. Indi- sas Agriculture Hall of Fame. System Division of Agriculture in 1966 and be made in press releases and so- vidual tickets and tables of 10 are available • Wells, who passed away on Dec. 22, spent his fi rst 16 years with the division at cial media sites. The late Bobby R. Wells, a world-re- by calling 501-228-1609 or emailing aghall- 1996, was internationally respected for his the Rice Research and Extension Center near For more information about the nowned rice expert and University of Arkan- [email protected]. expertise in rice production, with empha- Stuttgart. fundraising effort or to view the sas System Division of Agriculture research- “What a great cross-section of Arkansas sis on rice nutrition and soil fertility. After Wells was very active in collaborative, in- new trailer, visit the fi lm’s Indi- er, will be among fi ve individuals inducted agriculture to be selected for the Arkansas receiving his Ph.D. from the University of terdisciplinary research. He worked with the egogo page at: www.igg.me/at/ into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame Agriculture Hall of Fame,” said Butch Cal- Arkansas in 1964, he worked for two years Rice Technical Working Group and served PerfectHostFilm/x. in 2017. The induction recognizes service houn of Des Arc, chairman of the Arkansas as an assistant professor at Murray State Uni- as its chairman and secretary. He edited the For further information or to and leadership that have brought distinction Agriculture Hall of Fame committee and for- versity in Kentucky. division’s Arkansas Rice Research Studies make a comment, contact Sims to Arkansas’ largest business sector. mer Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “The In 1982, Wells moved to the division’s de- journal from its inception in 1991 until his directly.